Institute on Aging & Lifelong Health

Research improving lives

The Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH) at the University of Victoria is a multidisciplinary research centre established to promote and conduct basic and applied research that is relevant to advancing lifelong health for all. Much of our work is rooted in a broad orientation to health that includes attention to the social, psychological, environmental, and cultural contexts in which people live, as well as the institutions responsible for the health of our population. We recognize aging is a life-long process requiring attention to developmental influences and changes that occur across the life course; and, within this general framework, we focus on the longitudinal and cross-sectional study of clinical, population health and well-being, and health services. 

Efforts to address these areas of aging and lifelong health research necessarily draw on the expertise and experiences from faculty across and within many university departments including anthropology, biology, business, child and youth care, computer science, economics, engineering, exercise science, fine arts, geography, health information science, history, law, medical sciences, nursing, philosophy, political science, psychology, public administration, public health and social policy, social work, and sociology, as well as researchers in the community, health and social services sector, and from other universities. IALH is also home to several research groups including the Collaborative for Youth and Society, the CARING Dementia Collaborative, the Mental Health Aspiration Research Cluster, the Palliative Approaches to Care in Aging and Community Health Research Group and the Concussion Lab. 

Through innovative and transformative research our goals are to contribute to improving the health and quality of life of an increasingly diverse population, and to assist people and their families, health care providers, and policy makers in meeting the challenges and potentials of an aging and changing society. To achieve these goals, the Institute pursues and is engaged in activities that:

• contribute to the training of skilled research personnel which includes promoting and facilitating post-doctoral, graduate, and undergraduate training within the area of aging and lifelong health;
• facilitate communication and collaboration among scholars, practitioners, policy makers, and community members;
• mobilize knowledge on aging and lifelong health with scientists, practitioners, and the public; and
• promote the translation of research findings into interventions, services, products, and policies relevant to the public.